Perfect symmetrical cyclic aromatic trimer motif in tripodal molecule

Abstract

A noncovalent perfect symmetrical cyclic aromatic trimer motif stabilized through edge-to-face C-H⋯π interactions was found in substituted benzimidazolyl-based tripodal molecule. The distance 4.8 Å, centroid to centroid, and interplanar angle 60° between any two aromatic units in the trimer motif are in excellent agreement with the theoretically predicted symmetrical cyclic benzene trimer cluster.